Beer O'Clock: Kashmir

Oh, let the sun beat down upon my face
And stars fill my dream
I'm a traveler of both time and space
To be where I have been—Led Zeppelin, "Kashmir"

Fourty-seven years, to the day, that this iconic rock tune was released, I still love it. Once it's in my head, it's hard to get out—not that I ever try to dislodge it.

One of the things that I like about Stittsville's Brew Revolution is that they give their suds names that take me back to good times, listening to the music that I grew up with and love to this date. Walkin' On Sunshine (their NEIPA). Vienna (a lager).

And Kashmir, a Norwegian pale ale, made with Cashmere hops.

I suspect that the folks at Brew Revolution use kveik yeast in their pale ale, to give it that Norwegian distinction. There's something in the flavour profile that gives me that impression.

Let's get into it.

Kashmir – Norwegian Pale Ale (4.5% ABV, 20 IBUs)
Brew Revolution
Stittsville ON (Ottawa)

Appearance: a clear, deep gold with a foamy white head that leaves a solid cap.

Nose: pear. That's it. Pear.

Palate: melon and lemon-lime citrus, with just the slightest hint of banana, and a flinty, mineral finish that coats the mouth with subsequent sips. It's a clean-drinking, dry ale.

Overall impression: the first time that I tried this Norwegian pale ale, I fell in love with it. It had characteristics that were both familiar and surprising. I reached for it when I wasn't in the mood for an IPA and it really hit the spot. It had a good, light body and lots of flavour. It was dry without being bitter and I could really discern the fruit flavours.

In reviewing Kashmir, I opened my last of four cans and was a little disappointed that my supply was coming to an end. And then I remembered that I could always order more, and I'll be sure to. Easily sessionable, I would drink this on both a cold winter's evening and a hot summer's day.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺🍺

You can pick up Kashmir Norwegian Pale Ale directly from Brew Revolution or order it online and have it delivered for a nominal fee.

My Shangri-la beneath the summer moon
I will return again
As the dust that floats high in June
We're moving through Kashmir

Rock on... I mean, cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Vienna

The folks at Brew Revolution have a great way to plant an earworm: simply name a beer after the title of a song.

Take, for example, their Kashmir Norwegian Pale Ale. You might think of the region that borders India, Pakistan, and China, and has been a disputed area since the 1950s. But when I hear 'Kashmir,' I think of the epic rock song by Led Zeppelin.

There's also Brew Revolution's Walkin' on Sunshine NEIPA, which makes me think of the bright and sunny tune by Katrina And The Waves. The song truly matches the brew and should be played on repeat while you drink it.

Brew Revolution has a lager with a name that caught me by surprise (sort of). You have to be a true fan of music, and in particular, 80s music, to think of this song by one of my all-time favourite bands. But because this style of lager is fairly common, it's not a large leap to come across a song that suits it.

When I was in my teens, attending high school, I was into the British new wave band, Ultravox. When Midge Ure joined the band in 1979 and their subsequent album, Vienna, was released the next year, I immediately fell in love with it, particularly with the title track. But in my high school, you were either into Ultravox or you weren't.

Most of the people in my year couldn't even name a song by the band.

I suppose it's no surprise that Brew Revolution would chose this breakthrough song title for their Vienna-style lager. Let's take a closer look.

Vienna (Vienna Lager: 4.8% ABV; 20 IBUs)
Brew Revolution
Stittsville, ON

Appearance: deep amber with a thick, foamy-white head that settles quickly and all but disappears, except for a thin lace and a collar along the edge of the glass.

Nose: biscuit and dank wood. I also detect a trace of chemical, such as varnish or acetone, but it's not off-putting.

Palate: nice malt flavours and a hint of orange rind. It feels clean in the mouth and has a refreshing finish.

Overall impression: the song "Vienna" filled my head as the lager filled my mouth. I couldn't help but hear the lyrics and try to connect them with the brew.

The music is weaving
Haunting notes, pizzicato strings
The rhythm is calling
Alone in the night as the daylight brings
A cool, empty silence
The warmth of your hand and a cold grey sky
It fades to the distance

The image has gone, only you and I
It means nothing to me
This means nothing to me
Oh, Vienna.

I can't say that this lager means nothing to me. And while the song is about a fleeting love affair, there is nothing fleeting about Vienna, the lager. The nose raised my curiosity and I was warmed by the malts on the palate. The finish is clean at the start but it tends to linger the longer you drink it (... huh, like the warmth of a hand on a cool grey sky?).

The lager is easy to drink and warms the heart on a cold day. I'm not big on lagers but this one is quite enjoyable. This means something to me... this means something to me... oh, Vienna.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

Give Vienna a try. You can pick it up from Brew Revolution or order it online and have it delivered for a nominal fee.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: 90-Second Review

Once again, I'm trying something new.

For those of you who have been following The Brown Knowser over the years, you've likely read my Beer O'Clock reviews here and on its own blog site. A few years ago, I attempted my first video beer review, and judging by the scant viewership, most of you found the 19 minutes a bit long to take.

I get you. I haven't watched that video since I first made it.

I've wanted to make more videos of reviews, but I didn't want to make them long. I wanted to keep the video under five minutes, but even that seemed long.

Yesterday, I wondered if I could keep a video review to 60 seconds, and so I wrote out a short script and timed myself. And sure, I can do it, if I simply want to speak and I don't intend to do anything with the beer.

And so I then challenged myself to a 90-second video review, and gave myself some time to open the can of beer, pour it, smell it, taste it, and give my overall impression. With a little bit of editing, I managed to create a video that's exactly 90 seconds.

It's rough, but with time I'm sure I'll get better.

For this new review format, I thought I would review Ottawa's newest brewery. I first sampled some of their suds before they had a shop, during this spring's beer fest in Orleans. And I have to say, I nearly forgot about them in the ensuing months, but a change in plans for a recent Brew Donkey tour brought this brewery back on my radar.

Open since this past August, Brew Revolution picks up a music theme, with brews like Make Me Wanna Stout, Kashmir, and Walkin' On Sunshine, this Stittsville brewery already has a vast selection to choose from.

Enough writing: here's my 90-second review. Enjoy!